As we had a pinned posting about the Dover roadworks and operation stack which was taking place last year, can we resurrect the topic but this time about the M25 roadworks and the Dartford Crossing? Apparently there have been long queues approaching Dartford recently, and it would be helpful if those who've just done the Dartford crossing (either direction) could keep us up to date wth their experiences.

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We're trying to minimise time on the M25 this time, because of the roadworks, by going M6, A14, M11, then M25, but still have to cross the dreaded Dartford, so potential for trouble I suppose.
Thought it was preferable to the M40/south side of M25 though, with Heathrow and Gatwick on that side.
Staying overnight at Cherry Hinton on Friday, so not too far to travel on Saturday, but still don't fancy getting stuck in a traffic jam for hours

Live near tunnel. Approach road from Kent to Essex to go through the tunnel has been solid most of today. Other way over the Bridge seems a bit better - moving at least. We have been away recently, but it has been bad for some weeks now.

Quote: Originally posted by ginandtonic on 17/8/2009
Live near tunnel. Approach road from Kent to Essex to go through the tunnel has been solid most of today. Other way over the Bridge seems a bit better - moving at least.

Oh well, some consolation then, we're going over the bridge on Saturday. Mind you, are Saturdays worse than weekdays? Maybe less lorries, but more holiday traffic?

-------------Ina

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Our recent experience was not nice, coming down through roadworks was busy even though it was overnight but going home this sat want just awful.
Huge tailbacks for tunnel from Dover & the bridge was at a standstill as well.

The M25 roadworks just past M11 turn was also stationary with long tailbacks so we used the M11.

After 2 wks in France it was shameful the state of our roads!

My advise would be to expect the worse & leave extra time then you won't be caught out.

Sorry can't offer better advice, would avoid it if at all possible.
Happy Hols.
Caz

Basically from my experience and comments from friends, it seems that you should try to avoid the NE quadrant of the A25 for the next year. I suspect that if you are travelling from East Anglia then you will have to grin and bear it. If, however you are coming down the M1/M40 then go anticlockwise around the M25 - it can get a bit slow especially around Heathrow but serious foul-ups are rare.

One thing that you might think about is that if you are making an early start then you can cut out the M25 altogether - go straight through London (we used to do this when we lived in East London and holidayed in Wales - drive straight through the city at 5 a.m.!). At an early stage (before 0600?) it is quite an easy journey down the M11, under the Blackwall tunnel and out to the southern motorways .......

This is a good idea Val. Thought I was just unlucky in the past. If I try to hit this area after 7pm would it be any better? Am staying at a Travelodge in Kent on the way down so no real rush but I hate sitting in a jam for ages. How come we don't have this problem in France? Well Rouen can be a b***er but apart from that...........

DART-Tag - the Dartford Crossing pre-payment system. Please visit http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/ for more information about applying for the Local Resident, Exemption and DART-Tag schemes.

The Project

The Dartford - Thurrock River Crossing is one of Europe's most heavily used crossings and complex traffic management systems. Spanning the Thames between Dartford and Thurrock, the Crossing forms a vital link in the M25, Britain's most important orbital road.

The Crossing is comprised of two dual-lane tunnels carrying traffic to the north and a four-lane cable-stayed bridge carrying traffic to the south.

Le Crossing Company Limited currently operates the Crossing on behalf of the Highways Agency. Le Crossing took over from the Dartford River Crossing Limited whose concession ended on 31st March 2003 under the terms of Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988.

Le Crossing’s contract finishes in September 2009 when a new Operator ‘Connect Plus’ will be responsible for the day to day operations of the Crossing on behalf of the Agency, as part of a new contract for the whole of the M25.

I live ten minutes from the Dartford crossing on the Essex side and as somebody who passes the M25 every day on the way into London on the train I have these observations. BTW I also use the bridge and tunnel on a regular basis.

In my opinion the traffic at the crossing is getting worse for no other reason than sheer weight of traffic. The traffic is getting as bad as it was before the bridge was built.

I do not go under the M25 on the train or over the M25 on the A13 without seeing tailbacks.

The crossing is free overnight but unless you can keep your wits about you avoid crossing between 5.50am and 6am as drivers are more concerned about getting through before they have to pay £1.50 than they are for the safety of other road users.

Going the other way around the M25 can be even worse because of roadworks and sheer weight of traffic.

Enjoy your driving, on a clear day you can see Canary Wharf from the top of the bridge!